Beginning of Kitten Season, 2013—I am starting to feel discouraged that kittens are being born again outdoors. The kittens and mother cats need help, and there are not enough people to help them. I worry that there won’t be enough homes for the ones that survive and come into care. And, worse, that some will end up living their lives outdoors and continuing to multiply. I remember the events of last year:Mid-Kitten Season, 2012--At some point last June I received a phone call from a feral colony caregiver. Here's how the call went---(Caregiver) 'I thought there were just a few kittens behind Rucker John's restaurant, but there are NINE, with two mother cats!' (expectant silence) (Me) 'Shoot me now!' In the weeks that followed, the caregiver plucked the little sickly kittens one by one from their outdoor home by the scruffs of their necks, dropped them into small carriers and called me to pick them up. I was able to stabilize the he first four, ill with upper respiratory infections and ringworm, and get them into the care of the sainted Karen K., foster mom to the stars. At this time they are all in their forever homes. HOORAY! The next four, when plucked from their outdoor environment in July, seemed healthier but also had ringworm. And then there was 'Lastly,' the little light as air kitten we all thought could not possibly survive after he was alone outdoors for a week of 100 degree weather. But he did survive, and that became the miracle and high point of the summer.Sunday, April 7, 2013—As I sat in the library at church, my young friend Evannes stopped by with her grandmother. She said, “Miss Donna, I wanted you to know that my kitten Lucy is having her first birthday this week!” Lucy is little ‘Lastly,’ who turned out to be a girl and who has landed in the most wonderful home ever. She has a human sister, a big cat and a little dog in her family. I told Evannes that it helped me so much to be reminded right that minute that there are great homes and families for our kittens born afield. Thank you to everyone who adopted a kitten last year, and those who will adopt this year, too.